ACT Preparation Strategy & Study Plan 2023 - Check Tips & Tricks to Crack ACT

ACT Preparation Strategy and Study Plan

When preparing for the test, it is important to set a good ACT preparation strategy and study plan in place. With your knowledge of the syllabus and exam pattern for the ACT this year, a solid ACT study plan and preparation strategy will only solidify your position in acing the test this year.

ACT is an important test for admission to top colleges and universities in the USA and other study-abroad destinations. Some of the popular colleges accepting ACT scores include the University of Central Florida, University of Illinois- Chicago, University of Massachusets, Boston, etc. A strategic study plan is definitely required to score well on the test. The syllabus of the ACT is tough and covers topics that one has already studied in high school. Thus, the focus of the student should be to prepare for the ACT in the right direction., i.e one must know his/ her strengths and weaknesses in subjects and focus more on taking practice sets.

The syllabus of ACT is designed to cover topics that a student has already studied in high school. Thus, for some students self-preparation is sufficient to prepare for the exam while for others ACT coaching may be required. It is up to the students to figure out if he/ she needs guidance from an expert to prepare for the ACT.

Refer to the following sections for a detailed ACT preparation strategy.

General Preparation Tips for ACT

No matter how good a preparation strategy is, it cannot be executed well until you are self-motivated and honest with the preparation. Following are the general guidelines that will give you a pathway to prepare well for the ACT and eventually help you score well for the final exam. 

Start Preparation Early

The foremost step before ACT preparation is to decide when to take the ACT. Do not register for ACT just before the test date and attempt it without proper preparation. Based on the date when you need to take the ACT,  start preparing for the ACT test at least 3 weeks before taking the test. 

Have a Clear Understanding of ACT Structure & Format

Once you decide the ACT test date for yourself, take the first few days to understand the ACT structure and format. For this, you must go through the ACT Exam pattern & ACT Syllabus thoroughly and also take a few ACT Practice Sets to get a complete picture of the test.

Make a Study Plan

Plan your ACT preparation days well and analyze the time required to complete the syllabus of ACT. Given enough time for all sections of the ACT. 

Take ACT Practice Set

ACT practice sets are a must for preparation. Make sure you take the mock test seriously and that you take enough practice sets before appearing for the final ACT exam.

Focus on Weak Topics and Sections

If you take the preparation process seriously, you will realize the sections where you need to pay extra attention. The simple and effective way to analyze your performance while preparing for ACT is by taking a timed ACT practice test. After taking a series of practice tests you can replan your daily schedule to focus more on topics that require more practice. 

Section-wise Preparation Tips for ACT 2023

ACT is generally divided into English, Reading, Maths, and Science sections. Writing test is also part of the ACT. However, it is not necessary to enroll for the same. Students are required to go through the section-wise preparation tips for the ACT as each section possesses different types of questions and different weightage. The general guidelines for Section-wise SCT preparation are given below: 

• Make a list of topics for each section of ACT you need to prepare

• Mark important topics for each section 

• Figure out the ACT sections you are weak at

• Collect ACT study material, either online or offline

• Make important notes and formulas 

• Consider each section equally important to score well on ACT

 Check out the ways how to prepare for ACT for each section below: 

Preparation Tips for ACT English Section

English section comprises 75 questions and a candidate needs to complete them in 45 minutes. Speed is required majorly for attempting this section. Check out the tips below to perform better in the ACT English section.

• Be mindful while attempting the questions. Observe the writing style and tone before attempting every passage.

• Know about the basics and grammatical rules. ACT will test the applicant's knowledge of grammar and norms. If one is fluent in it, it would help him/her in saving time for complex questions.

• It is essential to pay attention to the answer choices. Aspirants need to consider them as the clue as they help in guiding them to the correct answer. Take notice of what remains the same and what changes in the answers to find the potential answer.

• Stick to the rules and not to your ear. Sentences or words might sound incorrect but if the grammatical rules apply to them, they are always right.

• Read the whole sentence. Focus on increasing the reading speed. 

• To save time students often make the mistake of skipping a few lines considering them unimportant. No sentence is less important. Pay attention to each word of the question closely, they might be the biggest clue.

Preparation Tips for ACT Reading Section

The reading test of ACT has 40 questions and applicants are expected to answer them in 30 minutes. Enlisted below are tips with the potential of increasing the efficiency of the applicant.

• Follow a plan and strategise. A candidate must recognise the difficulty level of the passages. They can start with the easy one and move on to the difficult one or vice versa. Reading test is attempted as per the potential and abilities of the student.

• Practice is the key to the reading test. With an ample amount of practice at hand, the speed increases along with accuracy. Solve the practice papers, mock tests etc. to gain proficiency.

• Read the question before starting with the answer. It would provide a clear picture of what and where the candidate needs to look for the correct answer.

• Keep your vocabulary game strong. Spend time with books, newspapers and magazines. They might help in improving vocabulary. With the knowledge of complex words, the fluency in the reading section does not break.

Preparation Tips for ACT Maths Section

Maths section comes with 60 questions that need to be answered in the span of 60 minutes. Follow the preparation tips for ACT maths featured below to improve the score.

• Be clear with the Maths formulas. Memorize them by heart as, without them, the Math section is impossible to attempt.

• Only through practice can a candidate gain accuracy in this section. The more problems you solve, the more insight and exposure you get.

• Go through the previous year’s question paper of ACT and practice paper. They give an idea of the type of questions that might come in the exam. 

• Learning tricks and formulas for solving certain problems might do wonders for the candidates. It saves a lot of time and candidates can invest their spare time in complex questions.

• Questions will be based on high school knowledge only. Pick out the study materials wisely and keep in mind their reliability. 

Preparation Tips for ACT Science Section

With 40 questions to answer in 35 minutes, the Science test requires practice and comprehension. Go through the preparation tips for Science mentioned below in order to ace the test: 

• Know the exam pattern and the types of questions that have the potential of appearing in the exam. It would save the candidate time and energy which he/she might invest later in preparing for the test.

• Work on your speed by practising through mock tests and practice papers. Try to be better each day. 

• Know your strengths and weaknesses and plan the strategy accordingly. Give more time to complex concepts.

• Circle out or jot down important information that you can revisit while revisioning for the test. Revision helps in keeping the memory fresh and strengthening the concepts.

Preparation Tips for ACT Writing Section

The 40-minute long writing test measures the writing skills of the applicant. The section comprises an essay that follows a predictable pattern each year that makes practising for the writing section of ACT easy: 

• Follow the mantra of reading, Write and Repeat! Reading the newspaper, magazines, Listening to debates and news analyses and participating in discussions help in building the foundation of your writing skills.

• Practise writing poems, stories, reports, editorials, letters to the editor along essays. It helps a lot in enhancing writing skills.

• Set a timer! Try practising with the timer on as candidates will be given 40 minutes to wrap up their essay. Speed should be taken care of.

• Become familiar with the current issues occurring in society. Develop and share your opinions on them.

• Share your writing with others in order to get feedback. Constructive feedback always helps a person in evolving and fixing mistakes.